Magnetic device



T. D. THOMAS Jan. 31, 1939.

MAGNETIC DEVICE Filed April 9, 1938 Patented Jan. 31, 1939 MAGNETIC DEVICE 'Talmage D. Thomas, Dallas, Tex. Application April 9, 1938, Serial No. 201,0

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useiul improvements in magnetic devices.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device which may be moved over the floor 5 for picking up all of the metallic objects capable of being attracted by a magnet, and being particularly adapted for use in beauty parlors, or similar .establishments for recovering hairpins, or similar objects which have been accidentally 10 dropped by the operators.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved magnetic device which has means for creating and setting up a magnetic force, whereby metallic objects may be attracted and held thereby; said means being so constructed that the magnetic force may be removed when desired, so that the metallic objects held thereby may be readily released and will fall from their held position by gravity, whereby the necessity 20 of pulling the objects from the magnet, as is the case where permanent magnets are employed, is eliminated.

Another object 01' the invention is to provide Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved device which is readily movable over the floor, or other surface and which has a receiving chamber therein, said chamber being constructed of non-magnetic material and having an electrical coil surrounding the same whereby when said coil is energized, a magnetic field is set up or created within the chamber so as to attract metallic objects thereinto; the size of the chamber and the coil being so constructed that the proper magnetic force, without danger of overheating said coil, is produced.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood i'roma reading of the following specification and 50 by reference to the accompanying drawing, in

which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of 'a magnetic device, constructed in accordance with the inven- Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view there- 01',

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 8-3 Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a reduced horizontal, cross-sectional 5 view, taken on the line H oi Figure 2.

In the drawing, the numeral Ill designates a ilat base plate, or support, which is constructed of a non-magnetic material, such as "Bakelite, wood, or the like. The plate is shown as having a general rectangular shape, but the size and shape of the same is subject to variation. A longitudinal shaft or axle II is secured to the underside of the base by bearing collars l2, or other means and the ends of said axle project beyond the ends of the base. A supporting wheel I3 is rotatably mounted on each projecting end of the axle, being confined between suitable washers H. A cotter key It, or other removable element, holds each wheel on the axle and, obviously, the base plate Iii is supported on the wheels i3, whereby it may be readily moved over a floor, or other surface. If desired, the cotter keys l5 may be replaced by nuts (not shown) which would thread on the ends of the axle to hold the wheels thereon and yet permit ready removal of said wheels for cleaning, oiling, or other purposes. The axle ll collars l2, washers II and wheels are constructed of non-magnetic material, it being desirable to make the metallic parts of brass, or. similar non-magnetic metal, while the wheels may be of wood, hard rubber, Bakelite, or other suitable material.

An opening I6 is provided in the base plate and is preferably located at the central portion thereof. The opening is illustrated as rectangular in shape but, as will be explained, it may vary in shape and size. A collar or housing I! having vertical walls; and being rectangular in crosssection, surrounds the opening and extends upwardly therefrom, whereby a receiving chamber A is formed above the opening it. The chamber is constructed of a non-magnetic material and may, if desired, be made integral with the base.

The housing I! and base plate I0 are covered by an outer casing or hood i8 which encloses these parts. The top of the casing or hood rests upon the upper end of the collar or housing ll, while its side walls overlie the edges of the base plate so as to completely enclose the plate and collar. The lower edges or the end walls or the casing are recessed at II to receive the axle II. The casing or hood may be secured to the plate in any suitable manner, as by non-magnetic screws it (Figure 2) and an upwardly inclined u handle II extends upwardly from the top of the casing. The handle may be made integral with the casing and facilitates moving the device along the floor, or other surface, on its wheels I 3.

For attracting metallic objects, capable of attraction by a magnet, an electrical coil or winding 13 surrounds the collar or housing l1. The coil is formed by winding wire around said housing, or collar, and is supplied with current by an electrical lead wire 21 which extends downwardly through the handle 20. A suitable switch is mounted in the handle, whereby the operator may readily control the flow of current to the coil.

When the coil B is energized a magnetic field 'is set up within thechamber A and as the device is moved over the floor, or other surface, the magnetic force of said field attracts the metallic objects on the surface and pulls them upwardly into the chamber, whereby said objects adhere to the wall of the collar or housing I! (Figure 2). As long as the current is flowing through the coil, the metallic objects are held against said wall and are retained within the chamber A. Therefore, by energizing the coil and moving the device over a floor, or other surface, the metallic objects on such surface may be readily picked up and retained in the chamber.

After the objects are within the chamber A, the device may be placed over a box, or container, in which the objects are to be deposited and the current fiowingto the coil is then cut off to de-energize the coil B. As soon as this occurs, the magnetic field and the magnetic force created thereby, are removed, whereby the metallic objects may fall, by gravity, from the chamber. Since the housing H, as well as the other parts of the device, are constructed of a non-magnetic material, there is no danger of these parts becoming magnetized, or retaining a residual magnetism which would prevent the metallic objects from falling from the chamber A. From the foregoing, it is manifest that the metallic objects are retained and held within the chamber A until the electrical current to the coil B is cut off, after which said objects are released. The release of the objects in this manner is accomplished automatically by gravity and eliminates the necessity of pulling the objects from the device, as is the case when a permanent magnet is employed.

' The size and shape of the chamber A may be varied as desired, but since the chamber forms an air gap, or space within the coil 13, said coil will vary as the size of the chamber is varied. It is well known that the magnetic force created by a magnetic field is dependent upon the product of the number of turns of wire times the number of amperes flowing through said wire and, therewould be decreased. thereby decreasing the magnetic force. Therefore, the air gap formed by .the chamber A, bears a definite relationship to the coil which must be of such construction that it will set up a sufficient magnetic force without overheating. Overheating of the wire forming the coil is caused by a flow of current in excess of the normal capacity of the wire and, therefore, it is desirable that the length of 'the wire, as well as the size thereof, be such that it will carry suflicient current to set up the desired magnetic force without overheating.

The device is particularly adapted for use in beauty parlors where it is desirable to recover hairpins, bobby pins, andthe like, which have been accidentally dropped. However, it may be employed wherever it is desired to pick up metallic objects. Further, the invention is not to be limited in size, shape, or portability as it may be made larger to pick up heavier articles, capable of being attracted by a magnet.

.'The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory of the same and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as wellas in the details of the illustrated construction may be,

made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I I

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for picking up loose objects of magnetic material distributed over a floor or other surface, including a receiving receptacle, and electromagnetic means surrounding the same, rollers mounted thereon and engaging the surface for supporting the electromagnetic means and receptacle directed downward at a substantially fixeddistance over and adjacent to the surface, means for connecting the electromagnetic means with an electric power supply, and means for moving the device over the surface whereby the magnetic objects may be removed therefrom and lodged in said receiving receptacle.

2. A device for picking up loose magnetic objects in accordance with claim 1 wherein the receiving receptacle is formed of non-magnetic material whereby magnetic objects regardless of how small they may be will be retained therein only so long as the surrounding electromagnetic means is energized.

3. A device for picking up loose objects of magnetic material distributed over a floor or other surface, including a casing having a receiving chamber therein, rollers mounted on said casing movable supporting the same over a surface with said receiving chamber directed toward the surface, an upwardly directed handle connected with said casing for manually moving the,

same over a floor or other surface, a magnetizing coil within the casing-and surrounding the chamber, and means for connecting said coil with an electric power supply for energizing the same for picking up the magnetic objects from the surface and retaining them in the receiving chamber as the device is moved over thevsurface.

TAIMAGE D. THOMAS. 

